ROYAL OAK – Jason Gittinger said it's one thing for the city to throw big art related events once a year like the Clay, Glass and Metal Show or Arts, Beats and Eats, but another to make sure art is part of the community year round.

Over the last few years, Royal Oak has made a concerted effort to bring public art to the downtown area with the creation of Art Explored and now the call for artists to create a permanent display of public art along 11 Mile Road from Troy Street to Campbell Road.

"When a community matures enough to a point where it is respecting those kinds of art forms on the street it helps everyone to grow," said Gittinger, who chairs the Royal Oak Commission for the Arts. "For our community to be at a spot where we put art on the streets is a wonderful milestone."

The most recent call for art stems from a $1.9-million streetscape improvement project on 11 Mile Road in 2013. The projected called for the widening of the road at certain points, new curbs and gutters, wider sidewalks and new decorative streetlights.

To keep building on those improvements, the city approved allocating $40,000 worth of Community Development Block Grant funds for the purchase and installation of the permanent artwork.

"The city commission has identified it as an important entryway to the city and we wanted to supplement that work we did with some public art," said Stewart Meek, assistant to the city manager.

Artists interested in the project are asked to submit their ideas for a single piece or an entire series by Feb. 15. A committee made up of ROCFA members and community art representatives will then select the top pieces.

Gittinger said they are not giving artists parameters they need to meet or giving out location possibilities unless they are requested.

"In life in general it is great to have your own ideas, but sometimes you get the craziest, most awesome and cool things from other people who see things differently," he said.

Organizers of the popular Art Explored program are again seeking applications for the temporary display of public art in downtown.

The program expanded to 10 pieces by eight artists last year, and has gotten rave reviews according to Gittinger.

Artists are asked to submit their proposals by Feb. 15, and if selected, they will receive a $600 honorarium when installed. If the artist's work is sold during the exhibit, a 25 percent commission will be paid to the ROCFA.

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The “Pollen Release” sculpture by Richard Gage is one of 10 temporary artworks on display in Royal Oak as part of its Art Explored program. The program is seeking new artists for the upcoming season.(Photo: John Stormzand | Staff Photographer)

"Art and culture are vitally important to any community," said Meek. "Especially when you have a downtown as vibrant as ours it puts it on a whole other level. Not only do the residents get to enjoy it, but visitors as well, and it has all kinds of quality of life implications."